Notepad Gets AI Summaries, Snipping Tool Straightens Lines in Latest Windows 11 Insider Preview

Researched by Gunaprasath Bupalan

Mandrill Tech reports that Microsoft is pushing forward with its integration of AI into core Windows 11 applications, with the latest Insider Preview builds for the Canary and Dev channels revealing significant upgrades to Notepad and the Snipping Tool.

The most notable addition is the introduction of AI-powered text summarisation within Notepad. Users can now quickly generate concise summaries of selected text by simply highlighting the desired portion, right-clicking, and choosing “Summarize.” The feature also offers the flexibility to adjust the summary’s length to suit user preferences. Alternatively, the “Ctrl + M” shortcut or the “Summarize” option within the Copilot menu can be utilised for the same functionality.

This AI-driven feature requires users to be logged into a Microsoft account, aligning with the company’s broader strategy of integrating AI capabilities across its ecosystem. For those who prefer a more traditional experience, the AI features can be disabled entirely through the app’s settings menu. This update builds upon Microsoft’s previous exploration of AI within Notepad, including the “Rewrite” tool tested last year.

Beyond AI enhancements, Notepad is also gaining the ability to view recently closed files, streamlining workflow and enhancing user convenience.

Meanwhile, the Snipping Tool is receiving a much-anticipated upgrade: the “draw & hold” feature. This new functionality addresses a common frustration by automatically straightening lines, arrows, rectangles, and ovals drawn by hand. By holding the cursor momentarily after drawing, the app will refine the shape into a perfect straight line or geometric form, which can then be resized, moved, or further adjusted. This feature mirrors similar functionality found in Apple’s operating systems, offering a more polished and efficient screenshot markup experience.

These updates underscore Microsoft’s commitment to enhancing user productivity and experience through AI integration and practical feature improvements within Windows 11. As these features are currently in the Insider Preview stage, wider availability will depend on user feedback and further development.

News sourced from www.theverge.com